Saint (Gateway Series Book 2) (22 page)

Stone began to worry they wouldn’t get the door open in time as he looked around the edge of the door.

“Mmm,” grunted a well-dressed older lady sitting near the door.

Stone looked toward the woman. She appeared to be in her thirties but Stone could tell the number was probably closer to fifty.
Probably a manager for the talent at a recreation club
, Stone thought to himself.

The woman casually tilted her head to her left and upward. “Behind that box,” she said quietly.

Stone quickly opened a small box on the wall to reveal a switch. He pulled the switch and the ratcheting rumble and swoosh of the tube exploded into a roar of air highlighted by loud metallic clanking. With a grunt, Stone flung the body of the guard into the darkness. He took a deep breath and activated the switch to close the door just as the darkness flashed bright and disappeared as the tube cleared the tunnel.

“Mmm.”

Stone heard the lady clear her throat for attention once again. Looking down, he saw her subtly hold out her hand. Understanding her, and Port Royal in general, he pulled another exchange card from his pocket and placed it in her hand. The woman placed the card in her satchel, gave Stone a quick smile, and turned away to stare out the window. He turned back toward Katalya, still dumfounded by the unemotional response to what they had just witnessed.

“Just a few more stops,” said Stone as he led Katalya to a seat, “and we’ll be there.”

Stone felt Katalya’s hand on his arm.

“I know why you did what you did back there,” she said. Stone looked into Katalya’s eyes, so much like her sister’s, he thought to himself. He could see the frustration and anger on her face.

“Talking to the guard,” she continued slowly. “Saying I was a…”

“It was a trick,” replied a confused Stone.

“It might have been necessary,” she replied. Stone felt her grip tighten. “But never do that again. Never.”

“I don’t understand—”

“Ino’ka has told you how we became separated, that I was taken by slavers, yes?” He felt her grip even tighter. “Never again.”

Stone felt ashamed of his actions and saddened for Katalya, but what else could he have done? He put his opposite hand on hers. “Never. I promise.”

Stone sat down beside Katalya and they quietly stared out the window of the tube as the
swoosh
and rattle counted down the few minutes until they reached their destination.

Chapter 16

Councilman Shelton Ferrous nervously looked left, then right, then left again.

The news of an intrusion, possibly by Scout Rangers, had the well-placed citizens of the administration polis on edge. So much so, Council Leader Cooper had called an emergency meeting of all available councilmen. Although he would’ve rather taken refuge in his quarters surrounded by his security system and personal guards, he needed to look strong in front of the Council if he wanted to challenge Cooper for council leader at the next annual profit and operations conference. Surrounded by four guards and joined by his chief of security, Jameson Rankine, he again scanned the street and nearby structures before he exited his apartment and hurriedly walked toward the opposite side of the street and his personal car.

“I heard three of them took out over twenty security guards, and they still haven’t been found?” asked Shelton as he tried to make himself as small as possible without looking too sheepish. People talked if the price was right—even his own men.

“Don’t you fuss, Councilman,” replied Jameson in a deep, confident voice. “Just a bit and we’ll have you—”

The sound of a dull thud and sight of the two guards in front of Ferrous collapsing cut Jameson off midsentence.

“Behind me!” Shelton heard Jameson shout as everything began to blur in a torrent of chaos. Before he could focus again, Shelton stood surrounded by the bodies of five guards.

Shelton finally reacted and turned toward his apartment. He had only taken a few steps when he saw a large armed man step in front of his door. Shelton tried to stop too quickly from his sprint and tumbled to the ground. His heart pounded as he scrambled frantically on his hands and knees; eventually he regained his footing and began rushing toward his car. Fear taking control of his body, he turned his head to look back toward the man, who had slowly began to follow him. His senses too overcome with fear, Shelton tripped over the body of Jameson just as he turned away from his pursuer. Again, he scrambled to his feet and rushed to his car, fearing a bullet in his back with every stride. He saw the car growing closer, but his fear only intensified the closer he came to the car. After seconds that seemed an eternity, Shelton reached his car and dove inside.

“Get me out of here!” he huffed as he rolled onto his back, trying to regain his breath.

Panting heavily, he soon realized the car was not moving. “Go!” he shouted as he sat up in the seat and looked toward his driver. His heart fell into his stomach as his gaze was returned by man with a thin face and a single tuft of hair running down the center of his otherwise shaven head.

“Just be still,” ordered the man.

“Who are you?” asked Shelton. “You’re…you’re them. What do you want?” he asked as his mind raced. “I have money. A lot of money.”

“Just shut up” came a woman’s voice from the front of the car.

Shelton’s vision started to tunnel and he could feel the sweat pouring down his flushed face.

“You’re her,” he panted. “The one with the bounty, the Traitor’s whor—”

His sentence was cut short by the sight of the barrel of Mori’s pistol pointing at his forehead. “Finish that sentence, asshole,” she warned.

“I, I…don’t kill me!” he pleaded.

“We’re not going to kill you…yet,” she answered.

Shelton jerked to his right and coiled up against the opposite side of the car as Magnus opened the door and sat beside him. It didn’t take him long to notice the large canines, the coarse hair, and the pointed ears.

“You’re from Venato,” he declared.

“You know a hell of a lot about Xen and Humani operations,” replied Mori as he turned toward Thay. “I told you he’d know some shit.”

“I’ll tell you whatever you want,” pleaded Shelton. “Just let me go.”

“We’ll talk about that later,” she replied. “Right now you’re gonna escort us out of this polis and tell us everything you know on the way out.”

***

Stone crouched low as he turned the corner of the passageway leading to
Hydra
’s berth. He immediately saw the Association security forces taking a position around the ship and quickly took cover against a ventilation revetment carved into the wall. He knelt and brought the rifle he had taken from the guard on the tube to the ready. Looking down the barrel in the direction of
Hydra
, he felt Katalya take position next to him.

“What’s our move?”

“I don’t see Orion or the others,” he replied. “If you move to the right behind that power supply, we can be in position to put them in an enfilading if they move toward this passage or the utility entrance.”

Katalya nodded and rose to her feet, but Stone quickly grabbed her and pulled her back against the revetment.

“What?” whispered Katalya angrily.

“I see them,” he replied and turned back toward
Hydra
.

From his vantage he watched as Orion slowly walked from
Hydra
’s main access onto the supporting brow. She was followed by two guards. Next came Rickover. And two more guards.

“Shit,” he mouthed as he watched the two walk across the brow to the opposite platform.

“Where’s the Scapi?” asked Katalya.

Before he could answer, Stone saw four guards emerge from
Hydra
, two of them facing back into the ship. After them came TC. His massive body filled the access as he lowered his head to step through the opening. Behind him walked three additional guards.

“What now?” asked Katalya.

Stone struggled with his next move. He knew he and Katalya could take out the guards but he wasn’t sure if they could do it without losing Orion, Rickover, TC, or all of them. As he mulled over his next move, he heard a report over the communications radio he had taken from the guard on the tube.

“Security HQ, this is Blue Team, Second Squad. We have secured the vessel and its crew. Request orders.”

Then came the response.

“Copy. You are directed to activate lockdown sequence on the vessel and turnover crew to Humani Elite Guard troops who are in route.”

Stone cursed under his breath again. If the Elite Guard got hold of them, it would only be a matter of time until they were at the hands of the interrogators or on their way to Capro prison.

“Stone?” asked Katalya again.

“We take them out,” he answered as he looked down the sights of his rifle. “I’ll start in the front, you in the back and we’ll work to the middle. On my mark…”

Stone sensed Katalya level her pistol a few feet from him. Taking a deep breath, he settled the sights on the first guard. He exhaled slowly. He pulled the trigger and saw the first guard fall followed immediately crack of Katalya’s pistol. Stone quickly fired again and the other guard next to Orion fell. In a flash it was over.

“Let’s go!” he shouted to Katalya as he leapt from cover and ran toward
Hydra
.

As he sprinted toward
Hydra
, Stone could see Orion rushing toward Rickover, who was on his knees holding his left arm.

“Is everyone okay?” asked Katalya as her and Stone reached the others.

“We’re good…I think,” answered Orion as she helped Rickover apply pressure to a flesh wound on his upper arm.

“Good?” grumbled Rickover. “I’m shot.”

“Shut up, big baby,” mocked Orion. “It’s literally just a scratch.”

“We need to get out of here,” interrupted Stone. “Elite Guard troops are on the way.”

“Damn it,” replied Orion. “Let’s get back onboard and…” She paused. “Where are the others?”

Stone looked to Katalya, the concern over her sister and mate was evident.

“We had to split up,” he replied as he turned back toward Orion.

“This sucks,” declared Orion as she kicked a nearby storage box.

“We have to get out of here,” added Stone. “They’re coming.”

Orion looked down toward the ground and inhaled deeply. “You’re right,” she acknowledged as she looked up toward TC. “TC, let’s get back onboard and get
Hydra
ready to get out of here.”

Stone felt Katalya grab his arm.

“We’re really going to leave them?” she asked.

Stone turned toward her. “We have to stick to the plan—”

“We can’t leave them here,” she shouted.

He could see tears forming in her eyes. Stone didn’t want to leave them either but countless missions had told him it was the right thing.

“If they lock down this bay we’ll be stuck.” Orion turned to the Scapi. “TC, go get her ready.”

“No!” shouted Katalya as she stepped back and gripped a rifle she had taken from a dead guard. “I’m not leaving my sister. I’m not leaving Magnus.”

Stone was at the same time frustrated and empathic as he slowly stepped toward Katalya.

“Katalya, I don’t want to leave them either, but—”

“Then don’t,” she shot back.

“Damn it, Katalya,” shouted Orion. “We have to—”

The thud of a round hitting Katalya’s shoulder followed by the whizzing of bullets cut Orion short.

“Contact!” shouted Stone as he dove for cover and quickly leveled his rifle in the direction of the passageway.

Stone saw the torso of an Elite Guard rise up behind the very hiding spot he had used minutes ago. He fired quickly and the man ducked for cover again.

“Are you okay?” he shouted toward Katalya.

“Yes,” she growled. She was lying on her back behind one of the dead guards, preparing to inject a coagulant into her shoulder. Another round of fire sent a wall of metal flying past Stone and ricocheting off wall opposite the bow.

“TC!” he heard Orion shout. Stone turned toward
Hydra
’s access door. “Get—”

A sound of massive metallic bars locking
Hydra
to the foundation of the docking bay drowned out the gunfire and rattled the floor as the ship was remotely anchored to its position.

“Damn it,” shouted Orion.

“Can we override it?” shouted Stone.

“It would take hours.”

Rounds again impacted against the storage box Stone had taken cover behind. One round tore through the box and exited centimeters from his face, showering him with metal fragments.

“Shit,” he grumbled as the metal shards felt like a dozen needles jabbing into his cheek.

“We’re screwed,” declared Rickover as he huddled by TC just inside
Hydra
’s access.

Stone quickly raised his rifle and returned fire but it was just for show. They were in an exposed position and all they could do was try to keep the Guardsmen from having enough time to take careful aim.

“Any ideas?” he shouted to Orion.

“If we could make it to the opposite side of
Hydra
there’s a maintenance panel we could access and maybe get clear.” Another hail of gunfire interrupted her. “But we’ll never make it.”

Stone winced as the metal shards embedded in his face reminded him of their presence. Hopefully Mori and the others were having better luck. He looked over toward Orion, who was applying pressure to a wound in her leg.

“You good?” he shouted.

“Yeah,” she replied. “But it doesn’t matter. They’ve got us.”

He could see Orion pound the back of her head against the container she was using for cover.

“I’m not going to Capro,” she shouted. “I’ll die here first.”

Stone’s thoughts flashed back to how Mori looked when he rescued her from Capro. Orion was right; she would be better off dead. He, however, wouldn’t go to Capro. His death would be much more public.

The sudden rumbling of the ship’s brow drew Stone’s attention and he turned see TC emerge from
Hydra
’s access with a heavy machine gun in one hand and a large metal plate in the other.

A flurry of high-pitched squeaks echoed through the docking bay.

“Go! Go! Go!” came the translator as the massive Scapi stopped in the center of the bow and sent a torrent of heavy caliber bullets toward the Guardsmen in the passage.

Stone quickly rose to his feet and fired as he ran toward Rickover. As he passed, he saw Katalya leap into the pit from the brow and head toward the opposite side of
Hydra
.

“Come on,” shouted Stone as he grabbed Rickover to help him into the pit.

“We can’t leave TC!” he shouted.

Stone looked back toward TC. Rounds from the Guardsmen were ricocheting off the metal shield he was holding as he rumbled toward Orion’s position. Suddenly the Guardsmen shifted their fire and Stone saw several rounds tear into TC’s legs. The massive Scapi fell to his knees but quickly rose again and stumbled toward Orion.

“Go,” ordered Stone as he directed Rickover’s hand toward the ladder near
Hydra
’s access.

Rickover conceded and stepped down onto the ladder. “Don’t let them get him,” he ordered as he looked up toward Stone.